Statistical machine



Dec. 29-, 1931. GOLDBERG 1,838,389

STATISTICAL MACHINE Filed April 5, 1928 GA 347 8 MN 236,60

HL ass a GE 4-32 1 Imaenlor:

MN 223,60 W

Patented Dec; 29, 193.1.

\ GOLDBERG, OF DRESDEN, GERMANY STATISTICAL MACHINE Application filed Apr-11:5, 1928, Serial No.

This invention relates to a method of and means for controlling statistical machines, and its object is to provide a method and means in which counting devices, for example,

may be controlled in action by radiating energy such as rays from a selenium cell, so that simplicity and rapidity of action may be secured.

In the accompanying drawings,

Fig. l is a diagrammatic elevation of a statistical apparatus embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a view of a controlling transparency.

Fig. 3 is a view of asearch plate.

Figure 4 illustrates a detail part of the apparatus of, somewhat modified form.

\ It is well known to put in connection strips etc. provided with record marks, perforations etc. with elements closing an electrical 2 circuit so that the current is closed by the perforation and a counter set working. The influencing of these counters was done by mechanic or electric elements actuating across the perforations. The machines were very 95 complicated and their speed rather limited owing to the inertia inherent to every mechanical element. V

It is possible to transmit radiating energy through the perforations or other recording marks with which the cards, strips or bands are provided and thus to influence the counters.

This idea can be realized in various ways. A perforated card can be put in front of a series of selenium cells, light-electric cells, thermo-electric piles or bolometres (called hereafter radiation-indicators). Only the instruments receiving the rays of radiating energy through a perforation will be influenced, all others remaining immobile. A spot translucent for the'kind of radiationin question can be used of course in place of the perforation. This is a particularly great advantage for the process, as thereby the perfo' rated plates can now be substituted by plates made by photography; V

This development of the process is of great importance if a combination of difl'erent statistical records is desired. In place of the perforations a positive photographic transcards,

267,556, and in Germany April 12, 1927.

parency 1 provided with black letters, words, figures or other recording marks can then be used, further a negative 2 of a certain combination of figures or words (called hereafter search-plate) is made. If the transparency 85 containing the various statistical indications is now run through the machine in such a manner that the negative coincides with the trans parency a complete coincidence impenetrable to any light or heat radiation will only be 00 possible in one defined case; this will only occur when the negative bears exactly the same characters, marks, figures etc. as the transparency in question, the only difference belng that in the negative these records are 05 light on dark ground, while in the transparency they are dark on light ground. A certain combination has thus been picked out of a large number of others with extraordinary speed and reliability hitherto not obtainable. In order-to obtain the coincidence of the negative with the transparency they can either be brought into contact (direct superposition) or be projected one upon the other (optical superposition) the latter method being more advantageous as the mechanical features of the machine are simplified.

Any instrument sensitive to the radiating energy can be used. In addition to the above 30 stated devices the human eye can frequently be used wherever simplification of the apparatus is more important than speed. While the thermo-pile and far more the photo-electric cell are capable of following the fiuctuations of the radiating energy with extraordinary speed, the limit of speed with which the human eye can perceive such fluctuations and transmit them to a recording mechanism or counter is about 5 times per second. When the eye is used as an indicator the apparatus is greatly simplified. In the example described above the eye sees immediately whether a complete darkening of the field of vision is obtained or not. In the first instance only a knob connected with a counting device needs to be pressed to ascertain that the combination exists.

A further advantage in the application of the radiating energy as recording device for can show, instead of translucent signs, such of difierent density or colour. It is then' possible to immediately deduce from the strength of the reaction the kind of record mark. When cxartain kinds of statistical indications f. i. the sex of work people, are recorded in a red or green colour, the eye will immediately detect the respective category. A thermopile or a bolometre would in this case act with various deflections of the indicating gal-' vanometre corres onding to the colour or 1ntensit of the ra iating energy and further recor the statistical in i size or number.

Another feature of the above stated invention is the fact that the inst ument indicating the existence of a certain s atistical combination serves to simultaneousl record the statistical indications connected with the combination. The light falling through the; transparency can for instance be divided into two arts by means of a half-silvered mirror 3. Sue part falls on the negative containin the combination desired (search-plate), an

the other on a sensitive photographic plate 4 rotected by a shutter 5, which is mechanicali; or electrically connected with the photoelectric cell 6. Thus the access of light to the photographic'plate is possible when the ra-' diation indicator pecords the existence of the combination desired or looked .for. By this method certain defined cases out of a large number of statistical indications are picked out and recorded on the photographic plate.

' An' example will illustrate the process. The turnover of a commercial undertaking is to be recorded statistically. The markets are to be indicated by different letters, the names of the various clients by three figures, the quantity of machine by figures, the kind of the machines sold by two letters and the amount of money by figures. By means of a special typewriter the Various indications are arrangd on lines closely one beneath the other and photographed on a film band as follows:' GE 145 2 MN 447,20 GE 145 5 PR 17,00 GA 347 8 MN 236,60 HL 285 3 PR 17,00 AB 164 2 FD 3,00 GE 432 -1 MN 223,60

The question to be answered is for instance 1 how many machines of type MN have been exported to the country named GE? A nega tive (search-plate) bearing the letters GE MN 'is then inserted in the machine and the film band showing the statistical indications is run through. On

cations accordingto 1 the first and sixth line of the negative will coincide in sue a way that no light can penetrate. The pointer of the indicating instrument 13 (for instance: galvanometer) will return on the first and sixth indication to zero thus with the film band switching on acurrent by a relay 10 and ac.-

tuatin acounter 12. Simultaneouslya hotograp ic exposure of the 'correspon ing statistical indication is made showing the combination looked for. Thus the number of the sales in question is first recorded and simultaneously (which, is still while all other items not corresponding to this articular combination are eliminated. As t e indications can be photographed on is. ver small scale by means of modern 'hotograp ic methods, the cost is very sma l.

The movement of the photographic plate between the various exposures can be done automatically.

Instead of perforating the statistical cards or stri s, marks in different colours can be printed on these cards, since the radiating energy can act not only by passing through a medium but by Wa of reflection also.

The projection of the statistical record 1 on the search-plate 2 can be done by the lightsource 7 and the condenser 8 as usual. The condenser 9 concentrates then the remaining light on the photo-electric cell 6. The relay 10 intensifies the current ofthe photo-electric cell 6 and brings the magnet 11 to action opening or closing the shutter 5.

I claim:

1. A process of carrying out adding, sortingystatistical and like operations which consists in exploring indications upon a search element comprising a seach plate and a record element comprising a record card or strip and causing the radiating energy to actuate a recorder when the explored indications upon the search plate and record element are identical, theiindications on one of said elements being penetrable by the rays and the indications on the other element being impenetra ble by the rays.

2. A process for carrying out statistical and like operations characterized by exploring a record bearing statistical indications by means of light and causing the light to radiate as means for selecting certain records, and causing the light to impinge upon a sensitive photographic surface upon the statistical indications being of predetermined character.

3. A process for carrying out statistical the above example and like operations characterized by exploring a record bearin statistical indications by means of light an causing the light to radiate as means for selecting certain records, said statistical indications being of a difl'erent permeability to light than the remainder of the record.

4. A process of carrying out adding, sorting', statistical and like operations which consists in exploring indications upon a search element comprising a search plate and a record element comprising a record card or strip and causing one part of the radiatingenergy to influence a recording means and a second part of said radiating energy to influence an element sensitive to the radiating energy.

5. A process for carrying out adding, sorting, statistical and like operations which consists in exploring indications upon a search element comprising a search plate and a record element comprising a record card or strip and causing one part of the radiating energy to influence a sensitive photographic surface and a second party of said radiating energy to influence an element sensitive to the radiating energy. y

6. A process for carrying out statistical and like operations characterized by exploring a record by means of light rays. and causing said rays to influence photo-sensitive means upon the record being of predetermined character. v

7. A process for carrying out statistical and like operations characterized by exploring a record bearing statistical indications by means of light and causing the light to radiate as means for selecting certain records.

8. A process of carrying out adding, sorting, statistical and like operations which consists in exploring indications upon a search element comprising a search plate and a record element comprising a'record card or strip and causing the radiating ener y to actuate a recorder when the explore upon the search plate and record element are identical.

- EMANUEL GOLDBERG.

indications 

